SARATOV (VTB United League/EuroBasket 2015) - Kyrylo Fesenko is big, strong and now in possession of an honor that makes you wonder if he might be a factor moving forward for Ukraine's national team.

The 2.15m center, who only turned 28 several weeks ago on Christmas Eve, was the MVP for the Month of January in the VTB United League after some terrific performances for Avtodor.

The 38th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Fesenko was on the books of the Utah Jazz until 2011 and the following year he was an Indiana Pacer, yet he never established himself in the league.

After a spell back in his homeland with Donetsk and then stints in the NBDL, Fesenko signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves but got ill before the campaign and ended up returning to Europe.

"I got really unlucky," he said to Russia's Sport Express. 

"Right before the start of the season, I got diagnosed with pneumonia. 

"As a result, I didn't make Minnesota's final roster even though I had spent the whole pre-season with the team.

Fesenko ended up moving to Avtodor in Saratov, Russia.

"Everything happened quickly with Avtodor," he said. 

"I was at a Halloween party with my friends when my agent called. He said that if I was ready to go to Saratov, I needed to send a copy of my passport immediately and fly over in 24 hours. 

"I was wearing some sort of nasty costume, a skeleton, I think, during this whole conversation (laughs).

"But I agreed. The invitation sounded interesting."

Fesenko made his mark in January, averaging 19.5 points per game while shooting better than 61 percent from the floor.

He also grabbed 11 rebounds per contest as Avatador strengthened their bid to reach the eight-team post-season.

They are in seventh place with nine victories in their 19 games.

The team is also alive in the EuroChallenge with a 2-1 record in Group K of the Last 16.

Fesenko had 11 points and 14 rebounds in last week's 108-107 overtime triumph at SPM Shoeters last week.

He is averaging almost a double-double (12.1ppg, 9.3rpg) in that competition.

Fesenko says he has made positive steps in his career this season. 

Instead of being frustrated over missing out on a spot with the T-Wolves, he has worked hard and taken advantage of a lot of practice time and minutes on the court in games with Avtador.

I've finally learned how to use my size. - Fesenko 

"At all of my former clubs, I was always asked to lose weight. 

"I'm not saying I shouldn't have lost 5-7 kilos, but right now I'm turning that deficiency into an advantage. 

"And the goal for me each game is very simple: dominate in the paint."

Fesenko says he wants to play like one of the NBA's former stars.

"My basketball idol was always Shaquille O'Neal," he said. 

"Last summer, I worked on adding several of his moves to my arsenal. 

"I used to think of myself as a defensive player. My job on offense was to clean up the glass and get tip-ins. 

"Now I have a clear role: set up in the paint, get position on my opponent and score."

There are several months to go before Ukraine's national team meets up and begins preparing for the EuroBasket.

With center Alex Len also coming into his own in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns and having expressed the desire to play for Ukraine, it remains to be seen which big men end up representing the country when it plays in Riga this September in Group D against Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Belgium.

Fesenko admits that Len is going to be a tremendous asset for Ukraine moving forward.

"He should become the leader of the Ukrainian national team, if his health will only allow it," Fesenko said. 

"In comparison to past years, Len has taken an enormous step forward. It's clear he's done a ton of work."

If Fesenko, who has not played for the national team since EuroBasket 2011, keeps working hard and having success, he'll certainly get an invitation to Ukraine's training camp.

FIBA